Buddi tag Merseyside: GPS monitoring launched for shoplifters, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• Repeat shoplifting offender becomes the first in Merseyside to wear Buddi electronic tagging device.
• The device was accompanied by an order to stop retail thefts, a criminal behavior order (CBO).
• According to Merseyside police, the new initiative is aimed at tracking the movements of the offender and deterring any breaches of the CBO.
• Such initiatives are part of national strategies to combat repeat shoplifting offenders by using electronic tags and banning offenders from entering some areas.
• Shoplifting cases in Merseyside have increased considerably in the past years, with a doubling in the number of crimes between 2020-21 and 2025-26.
• There were pilot schemes of using electronic tagging devices for prolific shoplifters in East Sussex.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 23, 2026 — Merseyside Police confirmed that a prolific offender has been fitted with a Buddi tag, marking the first use of the device in the force area in connection with a CBO for shop theft. The force said the tag will be used to monitor the individual’s movements and support enforcement of the CBO, which is designed to reduce the risk of further offences.

The announcement was made via the force’s official news channel, which described the individual as a “prolific offender” and said the tagging was intended to “help prevent re-offending”. No further details about the offender’s identity, the specific locations covered by the CBO, or the length of the order were included in the initial police statement.

How will the Buddi tag and CBO work together?

The Buddi tag is an electronic monitoring device that allows police to track the wearer’s location in near real-time, typically through GPS technology. When combined with a CBO, the tag can be used to enforce geographic restrictions, such as bans from entering certain shops, retail parks or town centre areas.

Under this model, which has already been used in East Sussex, an offender receives a court-issued CBO that prohibits them from entering specified retail areas. If the tagged individual breaches those restrictions, the monitoring system can alert police, enabling a faster response and providing evidence for further prosecution. Katy Bourne, the Sussex police and crime commissioner, previously said such measures “give the whole area respite because they know this offender is not allowed in”.

Merseyside Police have not yet published detailed operational information about how alerts will be handled or which retail areas are covered in this first case, but the force has emphasised that the tag is part of a broader strategy to target persistent offenders.

Why is Merseyside introducing electronic tagging for shoplifters?

Shoplifting has become a significant pressure point for retailers and police in Merseyside. Exclusive data gathered by the BBC shows that shoplifting incidents recorded by Merseyside Police rose from 5,415 in 2020–21 to 10,419 in 2025–26, representing a 10.9% annual increase in the last financial year alone. That amounts to more than 1,000 additional incidents compared with the previous year.

Ch Insp Chris Ruane of Merseyside Police has described the rise as a “challenge” and said his force is now detecting about 46% of reported shoplifting offences, roughly double the rate from six months earlier, following the rollout of Operation Dale. Operation Dale uses a fast-track digital evidence-gathering protocol where there is overwhelming evidence, freeing up officer time to investigate more cases and increase visibility on the streets.

Ruane has pointed to several factors behind the increase, including the cost of living crisis, pressures on the prison system, and a cohort of “frequent fliers” for whom shoplifting has become a “career of choice”. He said police are now tracking about six reported offences a day in the city centre and that every incident with a reasonable lead, such as CCTV or a witness, is investigated.

The introduction of electronic tagging for a prolific shoplifter fits within this wider push to deter repeat offending and provide a more robust monitoring tool alongside traditional CBOs.

How does this compare with tagging schemes elsewhere in the UK?

Merseyside is not the first UK area to experiment with electronic tags for shoplifters, but it is the first in its region to deploy a Buddi tag in conjunction with a CBO for retail theft.

In East Sussex, a pilot scheme introduced last year fitted a small number of persistent shoplifters with lightweight GPS ankle tags. Those offenders were subject to CBOs banning them from specific shops or precincts, with police monitoring for breaches. The scheme has now been expanded countywide, with Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne describing it as a way to give communities “respite” from known offenders.

In London, the Mayor of Croydon, Jason Perry, has said he plans to roll out a similar pilot to electronically tag prolific shoplifters within the next couple of months, which would make Croydon the first London borough to take such an approach. Perry told the BBC he was in discussions with the Metropolitan Police and the courts on how the scheme could work as a trial before any wider rollout.

Nationally, the Home Office has acknowledged that a small number of people are responsible for a high volume of shop thefts, often linked to drug addictions and other challenges. Policing Minister Sarah Jones has said the government is looking at a range of measures, including technology and court orders, to “bear down” on persistent offenders.

What reactions have there been from police and retailers?

Merseyside Police have framed the Buddi tag case as a significant step in their efforts to tackle retail crime. In related commentary on shoplifting tactics, Ch Insp Ruane has said the force’s improved detection rates are intended to build a deterrent factor, sending a message that “you’re going to get caught, so pack it in”.

Retailers have long argued that persistent shoplifting imposes substantial costs on businesses and communities. The Co-op has reported that, despite improvements in police attendance and a fall in crime from its peak, offences remain “twice what they were before the pandemic”. Paul Gerrard, the Co-op’s director of campaigns, public affairs and policy, has called for more focus on preventing reoffending, including through employment and rehabilitation programmes.

Shop Watch schemes, radio networks linking stores to control rooms, and social media sharing of CCTV footage have all been used by retailers to combat theft. In Worksop, a radio-linked Shop Watch scheme allows shopkeepers to alert a council control room when a shoplifter is active, enabling cameras to track the individual and police to be deployed if necessary. In South Yorkshire, a WhatsApp-based Shop Watch scheme has been credited with helping shoplifting offences drop by 65% over two years.

The Buddi tag approach adds another layer to this toolkit, focusing specifically on high-risk individuals rather than general prevention.

Background to the Buddi tag and CBO development in shop theft cases

Electronic monitoring of offenders is not new in the UK justice system, but its application to prolific shoplifters via CBOs is a relatively recent development. Buddi Limited, the company supplying the tags, was recently awarded a contract worth £220,951 by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey for offender monitoring tags, with the contract running from October 2026 to September 2029 and the possibility of a 12-month extension.

The East Sussex pilot, launched last year, marked the first time GPS tags were used specifically to enforce CBOs on persistent shoplifters, with offenders banned from designated retail areas and monitored for breaches. That scheme was championed by then-Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne, who said it was intended to give communities “respite” from offenders who would otherwise be free to return to the same locations.

Merseyside’s adoption of a Buddi tag for a shop theft offender follows this precedent but represents the first such use in the force area. It aligns with broader national discussions about how to manage prolific offenders, particularly those with addictions, who commit large numbers of low-value thefts that collectively impose significant costs on retailers and the criminal justice system.

Prediction: How could this development affect retailers, offenders and communities?

If the Merseyside Buddi tag case proves effective in reducing breaches and reoffending, it could encourage other forces to adopt similar measures for prolific shoplifters, particularly in areas with high volumes of retail crime. For retailers, the prospect of known offenders being electronically monitored and restricted from specific areas may reduce losses from repeat thefts and improve staff safety.

For offenders, the combination of a CBO and real-time monitoring raises the stakes of breaching court orders, potentially increasing the likelihood of further prosecution and longer-term consequences. However, as the Home Office has noted, many persistent shoplifters have drug addictions or other complex needs, meaning tagging alone is unlikely to address the root causes of offending without accompanying support and rehabilitation.

For local communities, the measure could deliver a visible signal that police and partners are taking persistent shoplifting seriously, potentially improving confidence in town centres and retail areas. The key test will be whether the technology, combined with enforcement and support, leads to sustained reductions in repeat offences rather than simply displacing them to other locations or forms of crime.